Articles

Authors

Schedule

Your partnership will help us reach the nations through the nations.

Partner with our staff

Give to a Training

Total Number of Evangelicals

Cultural Bridges to UPGs

Regional Access to UPGs

Religious Freedom

Prosperity

Current Sending Abroad

Mobilization Potential

Custom Mobilization Potential

Number of Evangelicals

Cultural Bridges

Strategic Access

Religious Freedoms

Current Sending

This infographic provides a visual score for seven data points ranked on a 0 to 100 scale. Faded icons show scores for other countries on the mobilization index. See below for actual scores and country-specific insights.

Show Notes

Formats

Available Languages

About the Author

Filter

Tools

Team Profile

<span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:2881,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;9&quot;:0,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;A Nation Sculpted By God to Reach Muslims&quot;}">A Nation Sculpted By God to Reach Muslims

Great Opportunities and Great Barriers

Mozambique is currently home to 3,537,934 evangelicals, making up 11% of the country's population. Nearly 46% of the population identifies with Christianity, and nearly 35% of those are practicing Catholics. [[1]]&nbsp;
Since the Portuguese colonized Mozambique in the 15th century, the Catholic church has been the predominant Christian denomination in the country. Christian missionaries became prevalent in the 16th century, leading to an increase in favor for Catholicism, eventually resulting in the government recognizing Catholicism as holding the privileged religious position in the nation. [[2]]
Today, Mozambican evangelicals are free to practice religion without fear of government persecution; however, there have been increasing tensions and violent killings of Christians by ISIS. These tensions have greatly affected the evangelical church. &nbsp;Despite these tensions, we can praise God for more than 3 million evangelicals in this country having access to millions of unreached in close proximity.
Pray that the &nbsp;Mozambiquan church would navigate these challenges strategically as they mobilize and launch missionaries to the unreached.

Mozambique is Culturally Bridged to their Muslim Neighbors

Mozambique has a median score of 17.7 on the Geert Hofstede Cultural Values Index, giving it many similarities with the 30 UPG nations on our list. [[3]] Its closest cultural neighbors are Sierra Leone, Indonesia, and Kuwait, none more than 8 median points of distance away. Nepal and Nigeria are within 10 degrees of cultural distance from Mozambique. Praise God that the Mozambican evangelical church is culturally close to many different countries with UPGs!
The divine, orchestrating hand of God is evident when we look at the nations with which Mozambique shares cultural values. It is essential to notice that all of Mozambique's closest cultural neighbors are located in the Middle East or have significant Muslim populations. Looking back on Mozambique's Islamic history, it is clear how the Lord used Muslim traders establishing Islam in the country to prepare the evangelical church on how to interact with and love the Arab world. As 17% of the country is Muslim, many Mozambican evangelicals have opportunities to interact with or even live alongside Muslims. These experiences and cultural connections give Mozambicans unique opportunities to reach the Arab. God may very well have prepared Mozambique to help lead the next great missions movement to the Arab world!

Strategic Access to Muslim Dominated North Africa and Zanzibar

Mozambique has access to 3,066,000 unreached in-country and 76,200,000 regionally. Not only is nearly 10% of the country unreached, but Mozambican evangelicals are geographically close to many nations in Africa with large unreached populations. High strategic access to the unreached could boost mission mobilization efforts by allowing believers ample opportunities to connect their everyday lives with the Great Commission. Mozambicans are blessed to live close to some of the largest populations of unreached people in the world! Praise God for such an opportunity. &nbsp;
Mozambican evangelicals also have access to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania that is partly self-governed and functions as an extension of mainland Tanzania. Zanzibar is 99% Muslim, meaning that Mozambican evangelicals are culturally bridged and have access to an entirely unreached island just off the border of their neighboring country.&nbsp;
Geographically and culturally, Mozambique is positioned with incredibly strategic regional access to UPGs. Praise God for placing the church so strategically! Pray for laborers to be sent to the Muslims in the north, nearby Zanzibar, and every tribe, tongue, and nation beyond Mozambique.

Christians Targeted By ISIS

According to Pew Research, Mozambique has low levels of religious restrictions and hostilities with a score of 2.9. The constitution prohibits religious discrimination, and there are laws that provide freedom of religious affiliation, public worship, and prohibit persecution. [[4]]&nbsp;
Praise God that there are few governmental restrictions on Christianity in Mozambique Christian ministries are free to promote and carry out their work as they see fit. Please pray for wisdom for church leaders and ministries as they cast vision to reach their Muslim neighbors with the gospel.
Though there is traditionally peace between the Muslim and Christian populations of Mozambique, recent years have seen an increase in violent killings by various Islamic groups, almost exclusively targeted at Christians. In November of 2020, the Islamic Jihadist group, ISIS, beheaded and dismembered a large group of Mozambicans on a public soccer field. [[5]] ISIS has confirmed hostilities directed against Mozambican Christians, and violence continues to ensue with dozens of other reports of violence and persecution in the last few years. Pray for our Mozambican brothers and sisters that they would have peace and wisdom in living. Ask the Lord for their safety and His provision and for opportunities to show Christ's love under challenging circumstances.

Lacking Safety and Economic Security Hinders Sending

Ranked 142 out of 167, Mozambique scores low on the Legatum Prosperity Index compared to other Mobilization Index countries. The country's economic prosperity has experienced a slight decline over the last decade, dropping 5 ranks. Mozambique's most significant challenge for its prosperity is its low scores in economic quality, education, and living conditions. Their highest scores are natural environment and personal freedom. Legatum ranks the nation moderately compared to other Sub-Saharan African countries. [[6]]
This low prosperity could have a significant negative impact on mobilization efforts. Mozambique's mobilization and mission sending efforts could be hindered if the economy continues this downward trend. Though the heart of the church could be turned to the unreached, raising personal and ministry support could be a challenge.&nbsp;
Pray that the Lord would be glorified through the missional efforts of the Mozambican church, despite prosperity barriers and economic decline.

According to Operation World, Mozambique has around 270 missionaries, 250 serving cross-culturally in-country and 20 serving the unreached outside of Mozambique. The Mobilization Index's prayer goal is to see 0.1%, or 1 in 1,000, of a nation's evangelicals, mobilized for missions to the unreached. With 20 sent abroad, the country currently sends .000005% of its evangelical population. If 1 in 1,000 Mozambican evangelicals were to go to the unreached, the world would see an increase of more than 3,500 new laborers!&nbsp;
Much of Mozambique's low sending could be tied to their economic struggles. It is difficult for any country to support and launch missionaries abroad when many live in poverty. Another factor could be the religious tensions between ISIS and Christians. This fear of persecution could be a massive hindrance to any missional efforts of the church.
Despite these hardships, there is immense potential for a missions explosion within the country! If 0.1% of their evangelicals were to be sent, it would be a massive movement for the nation of Mozambique! Pray that the Lord would mobilize a wave of goers burdened for the gospel to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation.

High Potential for Mobilization Despite Many Barriers

The Mozambican church is home to more than 3 million evangelicals. God has blessed Mozambique with religious freedom, a culture close to the Arab world, and geographic access to many areas with high Muslim populations.&nbsp;
While the nation is legally free to worship, many Christians fear for their lives as ISIS violently kills believers. Growing religious persecution could affect the Mozambican church reaching its full mobilization potential.&nbsp;
Mozambique ranks very low on the World Giving Index, with a score of 12%. [[7]] This is essential information for missionary sending, as it could point to a lack of giving opportunities for Mozambicans, whether from lack of resources or mission infrastructure. Still, we can praise God for the generosity already present in the nation! Pray that the Lord of the harvest would supply all the needs of Mozambique's workers.
It is exciting that Mozambique has high regional access to UPGs and has very close cultural connections to many different unreached nations in the Arab world. Mozambique has tremendous untapped potential for mobilization! Imagine the kingdom impact if 0.1%, or even double or triple that, said yes to going to the unreached!&nbsp;
Despite hardships, Mozambique ranks High on the Mobilization Index and is uniquely positioned to significantly impact the kingdom. Pray that the Mozambican church would begin to step into its role as a supporter and sender of cross-cultural workers.

Obstacles:
<ul>
<li>Mozambicans face social hostilities from local Muslim groups and violent persecution from ISIS. This safety concern may be an obstacle to some as they consider cross-cultural mission opportunities.</li>
<li>Low economic prosperity is an obstacle that could hinder Mozambique's ability to financially support missionaries sent to the unreached.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Opportunities:
<ul>
<li>Mozambique is culturally close to many countries with large unreached populations, especially the Muslim majority countries located in the Middle East. What an opportunity to join unreached cultures and spread the good news of the gospel!&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mozambique has geographic access to many unreached people groups such as the island of Zanzibar.</li>
</ul>

Pray:
<ul>
<li>That Mozambican Christians would embrace the roles of mobilizer and sender and find strategic opportunities to participate in the Great Commission.</li>
<li>For the safety of Mozambican Christians as they face violence and tensions between ISIS. Pray that they would be given wisdom, courage, and peace as they handle living out their faith in an unsafe environment.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Praise:&nbsp;
Praise God that though there is persecution from ISIS, the Mozambican church is free to worship the Savior and preach the gospel!&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Praise the Lord for the cultural opportunity He has given to the Mozambican church to reach the Islamic population in-country, those on the neighboring island of Zanzibar, and the millions of unreached in the 10/40 window!</li>
</ul>

Mozambique Constitutional Religious Freedom

Official Country Name:Republic of Mozambique

Population:30,366,000

Region:East and Southern Africa

Government:Semi-Presidential Representative Democratic Republic

Official Languages:Portuguese

Religious Demographics:Christian ±46%, Evangelical ±11%, Muslim ±17%, Ethnoreligious ±26%

Mozambique